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Alumni Council

Made up of 25 alumni appointed to three-year terms and the president of the Student Alumni Association, this board meets on a quarterly basis at WIU. Members represent the interests of alumni and serve as liaisons to 25 University areas. The council assists in the recruitment of students, selects Alumni Award recipients, and was instrumental in establishing the Student Alumni Association.

NEXT MEETING: Friday, October 11, 2013
Western Illinois University
Macomb, Illinois

For more information, join the Alumni Council group on RockeNetwork .

2013 Alumni Council Meetings
Saturday, January 19
Saturday, April 27
Friday, October 11

A letter from the Alumni Council President
(from the Spring 2013 Western News)

Kris Kelly, Alumni Council President

In the Fall 2012 issue of the Western News, I issued a challenge to all alumni to complete two of five opportunities to be connected with their alma mater during my two-year tenure as president. In addition, I asked Alumni Council members to complete all five opportunities. I encouraged alumni to take the challenge when I spoke with them at Homecoming and at other alumni and University events. Here are the five opportunities I presented:

1) Return to WIU for Homecoming. This is our pinnacle annual event as alumni. 2) Attend an alumni and friends event. The Alumni Association hosts events throughout the country (and even internationally), so please come and actively participate. 3) Share the WIU story. Talk to family, friends and colleagues about your experiences at Western and how they have influenced who you are. 4) Reconnect. With the variety of social media available today, it has become easier to make contact with former roommates, classmates, professors and administrators. Utilize the social media links on the alumni web site. Tell an old friend "hi" or a former professor "thank you." 5) Recruit. The strength of most organizations lies in its future members. For the Alumni Association, that starts with students. Identify friends and family exploring college, and individuals who may be seeking advancement through graduate studies, and encourage them to consider Western.

Now we have an opportunity to assess how we have done as the permanent trustees of Western Illinois University. As I have heard back from Alumni Council members, many have completed all five challenges and others are well on their way to meeting them. In an effort to gauge the progress being made toward the challenge by you (our 115,000+ alumni), we are providing a way to share your progress. Please email A-Association@wiu.edu and report your activity. I will provide a summary of our results in the Summer 2013 issue of The Western News.

I noted at the start of my term as president that Western Illinois University was in a time of change. We are now in a time of growth and strategically pursuing excellence as a university. Despite economic challenges, progress is made through the things that are done by faculty, staff, students and alumni to make Western a great place to learn and grow. Be a part of that growth and pursuit of excellence: complete the challenge and THINK PURPLE!

Thinking PURPLE,
Kristopher L. Kelly '90 MS '92

Alumni Council Members Sought

The WIU Alumni Association is looking for dedicated leaders of all ages, ethnicity, gender, geographic location, career fields, etc. to serve on the WIU Alumni Council. If you or someone you know is an active alumnus that would be a good candidate, please send the nomination form and resume to the Alumni Association at 1 University Circle, Macomb, IL 61455 or fax (309)298-2914. The deadline is March 1. (You may save and email your form to A-Association@wiu.edu only if your computer has Adobe Acrobat Professional, not Adobe Acrobat Reader.)

Or, click here to print off and then fill out the nomination form.

2012 - 2013 Council Members

Alumni Council Featured Member

Dan Szajna 2000Dan Szajna

Degree: Bachelor of Science degree in law enforcement and justice administration from WIU; Certified Public Procurement Officer (CPPO) from the Universal Public Procurement Certification Council (UPPCC) issued in 2011

Business Information: Contract Coordinator - University Sourcing at the University of Illinois in Champaign

Advice for Freshmen: My advice to incoming freshmen and new transfer students is to attend as many orientation and new student programs as you can as soon as you arrive on campus. There you will meet many others in the same position as you, wanting to make new friends and try new things. You will find some of these people you meet will end up being lifelong friends.

I also recommend that you take a moment and reflect on where your college career begins. Think about where you are in life, where you're hoping to go and what you would like to accomplish. Keep these thoughts in mind as you progress through your years at Western. By focusing on your goals and continuing to reevaluate them you are more likely to achieve them. After graduation and once you have established yourself in your field, remember that the opportunities that were afforded to you at Western were in large part due to the support of alumni and friends of the university which you will eventually become a part of. 

Favorite WIU Memory:  It was very exciting to be on the campus during WIU's 100th anniversary. The history behind the institution and the sheer number of individuals educated at Western was really evident during the ceremonies, presentations and interactions I had during this time.

I also have to give an "honorable mention" to my memories of time spent with friends at Lake Argyle. Camping trips or camp fires roasting marshmallows were always a great time!

Family/Hobbies: I recently married the love of my life, Rebecca. I am uncle to one niece, Abbie, and two nephews, Jack and Finn. Rebecca and I reside in Champaign after we both recently took positions with the University of Illinois. We enjoy entertaining our friends and family. We also enjoy dining out and experiencing the Champaign/Urbana area. Yes, I did say experiencing the Champaign/Urbana area! With so many festivals (sweet corn festival, Arthur cheese festival, various county fairs, the broom corn festival, etc...) how could you not?